You’re standing in line at Gurnee, Illinois, and the sound hits you before you even see the structure. It’s a rhythmic, heavy clattering. Not the high-pitched whine of a steel hyper-coaster, but something deeper. More organic. When Goliath at Six Flags Great America opened in 2014, it didn't just break records; it basically insulted every other wooden coaster on the planet. People thought wooden tracks were meant to be shaky, rattling experiences that left you needing a chiropractor. Goliath changed that narrative by proving wood could behave like liquid.
It’s fast. It’s steep. Honestly, it’s a bit terrifying if you look at the structure from the parking lot.
The coaster was designed by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), and specifically by the legendary Alan Schilke. If you follow the industry, you know Schilke is the guy who looked at old-school wooden coasters and decided they needed to go upside down. Goliath was a pivot point for the park. It replaced Iron Wolf, a stand-up coaster that was, frankly, a bit of a head-banger. Moving from a painful steel coaster to a record-breaking wooden one was a power move by Six Flags.
The Engineering Behind the Goliath Roller Coaster Six Flags Great America Experience
What makes this ride tick isn't just luck. It's the Topper Track technology. Unlike traditional wooden coasters that use stacks of wood with a thin metal strip on top, RMC uses a thick steel plate that replaces the top two layers of wood. This allows for maneuvers that would literally snap a traditional wooden track in half.
Think about the first drop. It’s 180 feet. You’re plunging at an 85-degree angle. That is nearly vertical. For a wooden coaster, that was unheard of when it debuted. You reach 72 miles per hour before you even have time to process that you’ve left the lift hill. The airtime is aggressive. You don't just lift off your seat; you are ejected into the lap bar. It’s that "stomach in your throat" feeling that keeps the line wrapped around the station even on a Tuesday in July.
The layout is compact. RMC had a very tight footprint to work with in the County Fair section of the park. Because of this, the ride is short—about 1 minute and 45 seconds. Some people complain about the duration. They say it’s over too fast. But the intensity packed into those seconds is higher than most three-minute rides.
🔗 Read more: Madison WI to Denver: How to Actually Pull Off the Trip Without Losing Your Mind
Inversions on a Wooden Track?
Yeah, it happens. Twice. First, there’s a dive loop. Then, the crown jewel: the zero-g stall. This is where the Goliath roller coaster Six Flags Great America truly shines. You go upside down, but instead of snapping through the roll, the train hangs there. You’re suspended upside down for a few seconds while moving forward. It feels like gravity just gave up on you. You’re looking at the ground, your hair is hanging down, and the wooden supports are blurring past your head. It’s disorienting in the best way possible.
Most people expect wooden coasters to be "rough." Goliath is the opposite. It’s glass-smooth. This is a point of contention among coaster enthusiasts. Some "purists" argue that if it's this smooth, it shouldn't be called a wooden coaster. They want the vibration. They want the fear that a bolt might shake loose. But for the average park guest? The smoothness is why they ride it five times in a row.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Goliath Experience
There’s a common myth that the back row is always the best. On Goliath, that’s not necessarily true.
If you want the most violent (in a fun way) airtime, yes, sit in the back. The train pulls you over that 180-foot drop with zero hesitation. But if you want to experience the visuals of the inversions and that 85-degree drop, the front row is unbeatable. You see the track disappear beneath you. It’s a psychological game. In the middle? It's fine, but you lose the extreme forces found at the ends of the train.
Wait times are a real factor here. Because the ride is so popular and the trains only hold 24 riders, the line moves slower than, say, Raging Bull.
💡 You might also like: Food in Kerala India: What Most People Get Wrong About God's Own Kitchen
- On a busy Saturday, expect a 90 to 120-minute wait.
- The Flash Pass is almost a necessity if you only have one day.
- Single rider lines aren't consistently offered, so don't bank on that.
- The storage bins in the station are efficient, but leave the loose stuff with a non-rider if you can.
The restraint system is also a talking point. It uses a lap bar combined with shin guards. If you’re tall, those shin guards can be a bit of a squeeze. It’s the trade-off for staying safely tucked in while doing a zero-g stall over Gurnee.
Why This Ride Matters in 2026
Even years after its debut, Goliath remains a top-tier attraction because it fills a specific niche. It’s the "thrill seeker's wooden coaster." It doesn't rely on nostalgia. It relies on physics-defying geometry. The park has other heavy hitters—Maxx Force has the launch, X-Flight has the wing-coaster gimmick—but Goliath has the soul.
There's something about the way the wooden structure groans under the force of an RMC train. It’s a mix of old-world aesthetics and new-age engineering. When you're flying through the tunnel at the bottom of the first drop, the sound is deafening. It's a roar that steel coasters just can't replicate.
Planning Your Ride Strategy
If you're heading to Great America, you need a plan. Don't just wander in.
- Hit it early. As soon as the ropes drop, run—don't walk—to the back of the park. Most people get distracted by the rides near the entrance.
- Check the weather. Goliath shuts down in high winds or lightning, obviously. But it actually runs faster when the tracks are "warmed up" in the afternoon heat.
- Watch your posture. Because of the high G-forces (about 3.5 Gs), keep your head back against the seat. It prevents that mid-ride neck snap during the transition into the dive loop.
- The "Goliath Creak". Don't be alarmed by the sounds the structure makes. It's designed to flex. If it didn't flex, it would break. That swaying you see? That's engineering, not a safety hazard.
The ride’s height was a record breaker for wooden coasters at the time, but records are meant to be broken. Other coasters like Zadra or Steel Vengeance (also RMC creations) have pushed the limits further. Does that make Goliath obsolete? Not at all. Its compactness is its strength. There's no "dead air" in the layout. Every foot of track is doing something to your equilibrium.
📖 Related: Taking the Ferry to Williamsburg Brooklyn: What Most People Get Wrong
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
To get the most out of your Goliath roller coaster Six Flags Great America trip, keep these specifics in mind. First, empty your pockets. RMC coasters are notorious for "eating" phones and keys during those airtime hills. Use the lockers located right outside the entrance; they’re cheap and much better than losing your iPhone 17 in the bushes.
Second, if you’re a larger rider, try the "test seat" at the entrance. The RMC restraints are notoriously snug around the thighs and shins. It saves you the "walk of shame" if the belt doesn't click in the station.
Finally, pair your ride with a trip to the nearby Yukon Territory for some snacks. You’ll need the sugar rush to offset the adrenaline dump. Goliath isn't just a ride; it's a 100-second sprint that leaves you breathless. If you haven't been on it yet, you're missing out on the pinnacle of what a wooden structure can actually do when pushed to its absolute limit.
Get to the park, head to the County Fair section, and look for the massive orange and brown structure. You can't miss it. Just listen for the roar.